Quick loading cutting head for a rotary trimmer

Abstract

A cutting head for a rotary trimmer is provided. The cutting head of the present disclosure provides a control mechanism for loading a spool member of the cutting head quickly and efficiently without having to disassemble the cutting head. In one embodiment, a control mechanism is provided in the cutting head interacting between a follower member and a spool member so as to provide for one way rotational loading of flails, e.g., cutting line, into the cutting head; in other words, to load the flails, the spool member is rotated continuously 360° in one direction only, e.g., clockwise. In another embodiment, a cutting head allows the flails to be loaded by a ratcheting-type operation, i.e., a back and forth rotational movement, which is less fatiguing and even more efficient in its loading operation.

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       7 . A cutting head for a rotary trimmer having two diametrically opposed cutting flails which extend outwardly from a spinning housing having an axis of rotation, a bumper for engagement with the ground and means to allow predetermined lengths of flail to feed outwardly in response to the striking of the bumper on the ground, the cutting head comprising:
 a spool member configured for supporting at least one flail; and   a ratchet mechanism extending from the housing configured to rotate the spool member in one direction along the axis of rotation while loading the at least one flail.   
   
   
       8 . The cutting head as in  claim 7 , wherein the spool member further includes a cylindrical wall with an end closure wall disposed on a lower end of the cylindrical wall, the end closure wall including a plurality of ribs disposed annularly about the end closure wall; and
 the ratchet mechanism includes an end cap disposed about the lower end of the spool member, the end cap including a plurality of ramps disposed along a peripheral inner surface corresponding to the plurality of ribs of the spool member, wherein upon applying a back and forth rotational movement to end cap causes the spool member to rotate in one direction.   
   
   
       9 . The cutting head as in  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of ribs is radially disposed about the end closure wall at an acute angle. 
   
   
       10 . The cutting head as in  claim 9 , wherein the acute angle is about 15 degrees to about 60 degrees. 
   
   
       11 . The cutting head as in  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of ribs of the spool member and the plurality of ramps of the end cap are substantially triangular. 
   
   
       12 . The cutting head as in  claim 7 , wherein the spool member further includes a channel for receiving the at least one flail. 
   
   
       13 . The cutting head as in  claim 12 , wherein the channel extends approximately 180 degrees around an inner peripheral surface of the spool member. 
   
   
       14 . The cutting head as in  claim 7 , wherein the spool member further includes a channel extending therethrough having an insert orifice for receiving the at least one flail and a exit orifice for threading the at least one flail through the spool member. 
   
   
       15 . The cutting head as in  claim 14 , wherein the spool member further includes at least two slots for winding the at least one flail about the spool member and each orifice is configured to direct the at least one flail into one of the at least two slots. 
   
   
       16 . The cutting head as in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a cam member having a serpentinous cam slot being defined by radially extending tangs which are radially spaced, with alternate tangs being spaced along said axis of rotation so as to define said serpentinous cam slot;   a follower member disposed over the cam member and having at least two diametrically opposed tangs extending radially inwardly of said follower member positioned to ride in said cam slot and a plurality of ribs disposed on a lower circumferential surface;   the cam member and follower member being disposed in the spool member and the spool member further including a plurality of ramps disposed along a peripheral inner surface corresponding to the plurality of ribs disposed on the lower circumferential surface of the follower member; and   biasing means acting between the cam member and the follower member tending to urge the cam follower into stable positions on said cam slot when undisturbed by force applied to said bumper and adapted to be overcome by suitable force applied to said bumper, the cam slot being generally parallel to the force applied by said biasing means,   wherein upon loading the at least one flail, the spool member is rotated in one direction along the axis of rotation and the follower member is fixed due to the interaction with the cam member.